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‘RENAISSANCE PEACEKEEPING’ — A South African solution to conflict in the DRC?
This research paper by Mark Malan of the Institute for Security Studies examines South Africa's potential roles in resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of March 1999. It analyzes various scenarios—ranging from a firm peace agreement to the absence of a cease-fire—and proposes an unconventional 'Renaissance peacekeeping' model that co-opts belligerent statutory forces into a multinational operation.
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Document type: Research paper
Weapons Flows in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland
This research paper introduces the 'Towards Collaborative Peace' (TCP) project by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which examines the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa. The document outlines the project's goal to analyze how the proliferation of weapons—resulting from conflict legacies and porous borders—contributes to a 'culture of violence' and undermines democratization and socio-economic development in the region.
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Document type: Research paper
Western Efforts to Develop African Peacekeeping
This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.
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Document type: Research paper
Connecting Weapons With Violence: The South American Experience
This research paper introduces the 'Towards Collaborative Peace' (TCP) project by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which examines the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa and their role in fostering a 'culture of violence'. The project employs a south-south approach, comparing trends in Southern Africa with those in the southern part of South America, specifically within the Mercosur countries, to propose regional control mechanisms and local strategies for reversing violence.
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Document type: Research paper
ORGANISED CRIME IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA
This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the growth of organised crime in South Africa following the transition to democracy in 1990. It analyzes the factors contributing to this growth, the nature of local and international syndicates, and the systemic weaknesses within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the broader criminal justice system that hinder effective countermeasures.
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Document type: Research paper
DRUGS, VIOLENCE AND GOVERNABILITY IN THE FUTURE SOUTH AFRICA
This research paper examines the relationship between illicit drugs and violence in South Africa, applying the 'tripartite conceptual framework' to analyze psychopharmacological, economic compulsive, and systemic violence. It highlights South Africa's emergence as a major transit point for international drug trafficking and warns that the resulting systemic violence and corruption could undermine the state's governability.
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Document type: Research paper
TOWARDS THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA?
This research paper by Hussein Solomon of the Institute for Security Studies analyses the transition from the 1995 Draft Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons to the 1997 Draft Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The author argues that the 1995 protocol was overly idealistic and failed to account for extreme economic disparities and security risks, whereas the 1997 protocol adopts a more realistic, incremental approach focused on bilateral agreements and the gradual elimination of obstacles.
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Document type: Research paper
SADC ORGAN ON POLITICS, DEFENCE AND SECURITY: FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the early development of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. It argues that the Organ is currently underdeveloped, operating primarily at the summit level and through the military-focused Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), while lacking mechanisms for human rights and democratic governance. The authors propose a comprehensive structural overhaul, including the creation of a Political Co-operation Council, an Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, and a permanent multinational secretariat to move the Organ from a reactive 'fire brigade' role to a proactive regional security framework.
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Document type: Research paper
South Africa and the Utility of Naval Power
This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies in February 1997, examines the strategic utility of naval power for South Africa in the post-Cold War era. It consists of several papers discussing the renewal of the South African Navy (SAN) fleet, the evolving nature of global security, and opportunities for maritime cooperation in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean rims. The document highlights the SAN's struggle with obsolete equipment and funding shortages while arguing that naval power remains a flexible, benign tool for diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and the protection of marine resources and economic interests.
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Document type: Report
Evolution and Challenges
This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of United Nations peace support operations from traditional peacekeeping to Multifunctional Peace Support Operations (MPSOs). It examines the conceptual confusion between peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement, while highlighting the challenges of deploying missions in failed states and intra-state conflicts. The authors argue for a shift in operational strategy, suggesting that missions should begin with a strong peace-enforcement posture to establish a secure environment before transitioning to peacekeeping and peacebuilding tasks.
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Document type: Report
ENERGY TRANSITIONS, REGIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKETS AND INDUSTRIALISATION PROSPECTS IN AFRICA
This policy brief by the African Climate Foundation examines how African nations can leverage renewable energy transitions and regional electricity market integration to drive industrialisation. It highlights the potential of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to overcome national energy deficits and create a sustainable development pathway through 'green industrialisation'.
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Document type: Policy brief
RESOURCE-BACKED LOANS AND PUBLIC SECTOR COLLATERALISATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
This policy brief by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development examines resource-backed loans (RBLs) and the collateralisation of mineral resources in African countries. It explores how these financial mechanisms can unlock infrastructure funding for resource-rich but capital-poor nations, while warning of significant risks including debt sustainability crises, lack of transparency, and the erosion of competitive public procurement processes.
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Document type: Policy brief
G20 holds keys to our safe climate future
A statement by Tony de Brum (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands) and Maria de Fátima Monteiro Jardim (Minister of Environment of Angola) urging G20 leaders meeting in Antalya, Turkey, to drive ambition for the Paris Climate Change Conference.
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Document type: Statement
Ten propositions on climate change and growth
This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the intersection of economic growth and climate change, specifically focusing on the needs of developing countries. It argues for 'climate compatible development'—a strategy that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities. The document outlines ten propositions, asserting that while growth is an imperative for poverty reduction in poor nations, it must be transitioned toward low-carbon models to be sustainable. It emphasizes the need for national strategies, the leveraging of private finance, and the creation of political consensus to manage the disruptive shifts in global production and markets caused by climate policy.
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Document type: Report
confirmatory-affidavit-d-ogier-003a10b951967945.pdf
This document is a confirmatory affidavit and professional curriculum vitae submitted by David Ogier, an independent Climate, Risk, and GIS Specialist, to the High Court of South Africa Eastern Cape Division. Ogier confirms the accuracy of expert maps (FA 10 and FA 11) prepared for a legal matter involving the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and other respondents, including Shell Exploration and Production South Africa BV and BG International Limited.
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Document type: Statement
La Exportación de Plaguicidas Prohibidos hacia Africa y Centroamérica
This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides prohibited or not approved in Europe to countries in Africa and Central America is illegal under international law, regional agreements, and human rights obligations.
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Document type: Report
L'exportation de Pesticides Interdits Vers l'Afrique et l'Amérique Centrale
This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides banned or not approved in their countries of origin—specifically from Europe to Africa and Central America—violates international law, including the Basel Convention, the Bamako Convention, and the Central American Agreement, as well as international human rights obligations.
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Document type: Briefing
ef-2018-es_seforall-23dba1375e868420.pdf
This executive summary analyzes finance commitments for electricity and clean cooking access in 20 high-impact countries between 2013-14 and 2015-16. While electricity finance increased, it remains insufficient to meet 2030 universal access goals, with a significant geographical imbalance favoring Asia over Sub-Saharan Africa. Finance for clean cooking has decreased and remains critically low.
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Document type: Executive summary
FOREST DECLARATION ASSESSMENT
This document provides the key terms and methodology for the Forest Declaration Assessment, focusing on indicators for forest loss, degradation, and restoration. It details the use of a linear reduction pathway to reach 'gross zero' deforestation by 2030 and outlines the data sources and cost-effectiveness thresholds used to estimate global restoration potential through 2050.
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Document type: Report
STUDY ON MANAGING SOVEREIGN DEBT IN TIMES OF CRISIS: Insights from the Covid-19 pandemic and lessons for the future
This executive summary details a study on sovereign debt management in the MEFMI region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that the crisis led to sharp GDP contractions and a significant increase in the average debt-to-GDP ratio (rising to 70.6% in 2020). Countries responded with policy rate cuts, tax exemptions, and increased reliance on Local Currency Bond Markets (LCBMs). While international initiatives like the G20's DSSI provided critical relief, the pandemic exposed a lack of business continuity planning and operational risk management in debt offices.
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Document type: Executive summary